Assonance:
* Focuses on vowel sounds.
* Creates a sense of smoothness, flow, and melody.
* Often used in poetry, song lyrics, and prose to create a musical effect.
* Examples:
* "The sea shells shimmered in the sun." (Repetition of the short "i" sound)
* "The old oak tree stood tall and proud." (Repetition of the long "o" sound)
Consonance:
* Focuses on consonant sounds.
* Creates a sense of harshness, rhythm, and emphasis.
* Often used to create a dramatic or forceful effect.
* Examples:
* "Peter picked a peck of peckled peppers." (Repetition of the "p" sound)
* "The silence screamed in my ears." (Repetition of the "s" sound)
Here's a simple analogy:
* Assonance is like a smooth, flowing river.
* Consonance is like a bumpy, rocky road.
Both assonance and consonance can be used effectively to enhance the impact of language, but they achieve different effects.